Carton having pour spout with reclosure



March 14, 1961 G. E. STRUBLE 2,974,845

CARTON HAVING POUR SPOUT WITH RECLOSURE Filed May 19, 1959 35 3ld 32cV340 ig 34b 36 Blc/ gal) 3 u a JP 22 35a 36b ll 32d E E u a Q g asINVENTOR lenn E. Srruble i ATTORNEY United States Patent CARTON HAVINGPOUR SPOUT WITH RECLOSURE Glenn E. Struble, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor toDiamond National Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 19,1959, Ser. No. 814,294

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) The present invention relates to a carton havinga pour spout with reclosure, and more particularly to such a carton inwhich a foldable top part is limited to a double thickness hinge line.

Cartons have been provided which have a pour spout integral therewithand made from parts that are folded in a bellows-like arrangement intothe interior of the carton during shipment; upon opening thereof, thebellows flap is pulled from the interior of the carton to provide a pourspout, and this spout is reinsertable into the carton to efiectreclosing thereof. In such cartons, the infolded bellows type pour spouthas been provided with an attachment flap made up of three layers inoverlapping relationship. As a result, when the carton was opened andthe pour spout outfolded, it was necessary to fold the attachment flapabout a hinge line that was of triple thickness. This proved to beextremely difiicult, and resulted in the tearing of the carton since itwas easier for one thickness of material to tear than it was for thethree thicknesses of material to be folded. The torn part of the cartonoften left an opening which admitted dust and other foreign matter intothe contents of the carton, even though the bellows pour spout had beenreclosed. Hence, these cartons did not provide for complete and sanitaryreclosure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a carton having a pourspout in the form of a bellows that may be readily opened.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a cartonhaving a bellows type pour spout that is reclosable.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a cartonhaving a bellows type pour spout that is secured to an attachment flapthat is relatively easily folded. 7

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a cartonhaving a bellows type pour spout that may be opened and the bellowsplaced into pouring position without risking the tearing of the cartonat places other than those intended.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant inventionwill be apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a blank, with parts removed, for making thecarton of the present invention.

' Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views, with parts cut away, showingthe manner of erecting a carton from the blank of Fig. l.

' Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pour spout corner of the carton inaccordance with the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, with parts in section, showing the openingof the carton of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference -numerals areusedto designate like or corresponding parts throughout the severalviews, there is shown in Fig. l a blank 10 comprising an end panel 11, aside panel 12, a second end panel 13 and a second side panel 14.Extending from the end panel 11 is a glue flap 15, and it will beunderstood that these several flaps and panels are separated from eachother by suitable scores. A bottom flap is integral with the bottom ofeach of the four panels of the blank 10, and are designated 21, 22, 23and 24, respectively.

Integral with the upper end of end panel 11 is a bellows flap panel 31.Panel 31 is divided into two sector shaped sections 31a and 31b by thescore line 310 that extends from one corner of panel 31 to the arcuatemargin 31d thereof.

A top flap 32 is integral with side panel 12, and may be seen to begenerally rectangular in shape. Top flap 32 is divided into sections 32aand 32b by a score 32c extending diagonally from the upper left handcorner of the flap 32 to the fold line between it and side panel 12.From the end of score 32c adjacent the side panel 12, and extending tothe panel 31 is a series of perforations 32d.

A panel 33 is integrally joined to the top margin of end panel 13, and atop flap 34 is integrally joined with the top margin of side panel 14.Top flap 34 is divided into sections 34a and 34b by the score 340 thatextends from the lower right-hand corner of generally rectangular flap34 upwardly and diagonally to the upper margin thereof. Score 340 isparallel with score 32c in top flap 32. Extending from and integral withthe righthand margin of top flap 34 is an car 36 having a tab portion36a and a securing portion 3612 that are separated by a score 360. Score360 extends diagonally from the upper left-hand corner of car 36, andthe tab portion 36a may be seen to extend further from the top flap 34than the securing portion 36b.

Referring now to the bellows flap panel 31, there may be seen integraltherewith a securing flap 35, and it will be particularly noted thatsecuring flap 35 has a free edge 35a extending diagonally upwardly andto the left from the lower right-hand corner thereof.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there may be seen the blank 10 partially foldedto form the carton of the present invention. The blank 10 has beenfolded to bring the side panels 12 and 14 parallel with each other, andthe end panels 11 and 13 parallel with each other. Glue has been appliedto the glue flap 15, and it has been thereby secured to the inside ofside panel 14. In addition, the

securing flap 35 has similarly had glue applied thereto and it has beensecured to the section 34b of top flap 34 by a continuous gluingoperation, and at the same time as the glue flap 15 was secured to theside panel 14. It will be understood that the top flap 32 is coplanarwith side panel 12 and that top flap 34 is coplanar with side panel 14.Bellows flap panel 31 may be seen, with parts broken away, to extendbetween the end panel 11 and the top flap 34, to which it is now securedby the securing flap 35. Through the break provided in bellows flappanel 31, it may be seen that free edge 35a of securing flap 35 doesnotgo beyond the score 34c in top flap 34.

After the bottom has been closed and the carton filled with the usualgranular or flaked material, closing of the top of the carton is begunas shown in Fig. 3, and it may be seen in this figure that bellows flappanel 31 is folded so that the score line 310 becomes a fold line andnow overlies the interior of the carton. Panel 31.

has been folded about a fold line 31a lying between it and end panel 11and also about a fold line 31 lying between it and securing flap 35.Since securing flap 35 is adhesively secured to top flap 34, this latterflap has begun to told on the line between it and side panel 14.

Top flap 32" is shown broken away in order that the parts abovediscussed may be seen.

In Fig. 4, the top flap 34 has been folded, and is shown almost in thehorizontal position. Top flap 32 has again been broken away in order toshow thetop flap 34 and bellows flap panel 31. It will be observed thatthe score line or fold line 31c now extends diagonally from corner 40 ofthe carton, and that the bellows flap panel 31 is reversely folded aboutfold line 31c. Fold line 31f overlies fold line 31a. The free edge 35aof securing flap 35 lies between a vertical plane extending throughscore 34c and the fold line 31 and thus no part of the securing flap 35extends beyond this vertical plane. The carton is completed, as shown inFig. 5, by folding down the remaining top flap 32 and securing it to theupper surface of top flap 34, and by folding down the ear 36 andsecuring only the securing portion 36b thereof to the end wall 11; tabportion 36a remains in a plane parallel to end wall 11, but is notsecured thereto.

To open the carton of the present invention, it is only necessary tosever the material of the carton along the line of the perforations 32dand to pivot about the scores 32c and 340 of the attachment flap made upof the sections 32a and 34b, to which the securing flap 35 is adhesivelysecured. The arrangement of the parts during opening of the carton maythus be seen in Fig. 6, it being noted that after severing the carton atthe perforations 320! it is only necessary to pull upwardly on the tabportion 36a of ear 36 tofirst free the securing portion 36!) thereof andthen to continue the upward movement of car 36 to cause bending of theaforesaid attachment flap. The sections 31a and 31b are shown in Fig. 6in their out-folded position, and so the material may be poured throughthe pouring spout formed by these sections.

It will be particularly noted that the opening of this carton isrelatively easy, since only a two thickness attachment flap has to befolded about hinge lines formed by the scores 32c and 340 and thustearing of the carton, as in a line beyond the line of perforations 32d,is avoided.

The appearance of the various flaps forming the top and pour spout ofthe carton are shown in Fig. 7, wherein there may be seen the side wallsor panels 12 and 14, the top flap 32, the top flap 34 underlying the topflap 32, the securing flap 35 and the sections 31a and 31b of bellowsflap panel 31.

There has been provided a carton made from a one piece unit blank thatprovides a bellows type reclosable pour spout, which carton may bereadily opened and which only requires the folding of an attachment flapto which the bellows flap panels are joined, about a double thicknesshinge or fold line. Hence, tearing of the carton in an attempt to openor bend the attachment flap is avoided and as a result there is nodanger of undesired material entering the carton through an undesiredand unintended opening. Due to the resilient nature of the material fromwhich the carton of the present invention is made, opening and reclosingthereof may be readily accomplished.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention and thereforethe invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings anddescribed in'the specification but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a carton having a bellows type reclosable pour spout, an end walland a pair of opposed side walls, a

bellows flap having one edge thereof integral with the top margin ofsaid end wall and foldably joined thereto about a fold line at the topof said end wall, said bellows flap extending into said carton and beingreversely folded about a fold line extending diagonally from a corner ofsaid carton, a securing flap integral with said bellows flap andreversely folded with respect thereto about a fold line overlying saidfirst mentioned fold line, a first top flap integral with one said sidewall and secured to the upper surface of said securing flap, a secondtop flap integral with the other side wall and secured to the uppersurface of said first top flap, said first and second top flaps eachhaving a score therein extending diagonally from said corner of thecarton, the scores in said first and second top flaps being verticallyjuxtaposed, said securing fiap having a free edge opposite said thirdmentioned fold line between said third fold line and a plane extendingthrough said vertically juxtaposed scores, said second top flap andother side wall including a perforated linear portion extendingtherebetween from one end of said diagonal scores in said top flaps tothe intersec tion between said end Wall and said other sidewall, saidfirst top flap including an ear foldably connected transversely to oneend thereof and removably secured in juxtaposition on the outside ofsaid end wall.

2. In a carton having a bellows type reclosable pour spout, an end walland a pair'of opposed side walls, a bellows flap having one edge thereofintegral with the top margin of said end wall and foldably joinedthereto about a fold line at the top of said end wall, said bellows flapextending into said carton and being reversely folded about a fold lineextending diagonally from a corner of said carton, a securing flapintegral with said bellows flap and reversely folded with respectthereto about a fold line overlying said first mentioned fold line, afirst top flap integral with one said side wall and secured to the uppersurface of said securing flap, a second top flap integral with the otherside wall and secured to the upper surface of said first top flap, saidfirst and second top flaps each having a score therein extendingdiagonally from said corner of the carton, the scores in said first andsecond top flaps being vertically juxtaposed, said securing flap havinga free edge opposite said third mentioned fold line between said thirdfold line and a plane extending through said vertically juxtaposedscores, said second top flap and other side wall including a perforatedlinear portion extending therebetween from one end of said diagonalscores in said top flaps to the intersection between said end wall andsaid other side wall, said first top flap including an ear foldablyconnected transversely to one end thereof and removably secured injuxtaposition on the outside of said end wall, and a tab foldablyconnected at one end of said ear to be readily grasped and separate saidcar from the end wall and tear said perforated linear portion.

3. A blank for a carton comprising a first end panel, a first sidepanel, a second end panel and a second side panel in the order named,said panels being of equal height and separated by fold lines, bottompanels foldably connected transversely of said end and side panels, aglue flap foldably connected to the edge of one end panel, a bellowsflap foldably connected transversely of the top edge of said first endpanel, a first top flap foldably connected transversely of the top edgeof said first side panel, a panel foldably connected transversely of thetop edge of said second end panel, a second top flap foldably connectedtransversely of the top edge of said second side panel, said bellowsflap including two sector-shaped sections of equal area and divided by afold line extending diagonally from the extreme outer margin of saidfirst end panel at the foldable connection with said bellows flap, asecuring flap foldably connected to the outer margin of said bellowsflap adjacent the origin of said diagonal fold line, said bellows flapincluding a margin opposite the origin of said diagonal fold line andintersected thereby, said securing flap including an angular marginextending from the origin of said diagonal fold line and extending intoone side edge thereof, said top flaps being rectangular and includingmutually parallel fold Parallel with the angular margin of said securingflap, the fold line of said first top flap extending angularly from theupper corner adjacent said bellows flap and intersecting the foldableconnection with said first side panel, a linear perforation at the foldline between said first top flap and said first side panel and extendingfrom the side margin of said top flap adjacent the bellows flap alongthe foldable connection and intersecting the angular fold line in saidfirst top flap, the fold line in said second top flap extending from alower marginal corner of said second side wall at the foldableconnection with said top flap to the upper marginal edge thereof, and aconnecting ear foldably connected to one side of said second top flap.

4. A blank for a carton comprising a first end panel, a first sidepanel, a second end panel and a second side panel in the order named,said panels being of equal height and separated by fold lines, bottompanels foldably connected transversely of said end and side panels, a

glue flap foldably connected to the edge of one end panel,

a bellows flap foldably connected transversely of the top edge of saidfirst end panel, a first top flap foldably connected transversely of thetop edge of said first side panel, a panel fold'ably connectedtransversely of the top edge of said second end panel, a second top flapfoldably connected transversely of the top edge of said second sidepanel, said bellows flap including two sector-Shaped sections of equalarea and divided by a fold line extending diagonally from the extremeouter margin of said first end panel at the foldable connection withsaid bellows flap, a securing flap foldably connected to the outermargin of said bellows flap adjacent the origin of said diagonal foldline, said bellows flap including a margin opposite the origin of saiddiagonal fold line and intersected thereby, said securing flap includingan angular margin extending from the origin of said diagonal fold lineand extending into one side edge thereof, said top flaps beingrectangular and including mutually parallel fold lines parallel with theangular margin of said securing flap, the fold line of said first topflap extending angularly from the upper corner adjacent said bellowsflap and intersecting the foldable connection with said first sidepanel, a linear perforation at the fold line between said first top flapand said first side panel and extending from the side margin of said topflap adjacent the bellows flap along the foldable connection andintersecting the angularfold line in said first top flap, the fold linein said second top fiap extending from a lower marginal corner of saidsecond side wall at the foldable connection with said top flap to theupper marginal edge thereof, and a connecting ear foldably connected toone side of said second top flap and including a foldable tab at one endthereof.

Marsh Oct. 9, 1934 Maxon Aug. 21, 1951

